Leitrim County Council has announced that four key projects have secured funding from the Government's Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).

It follows an announcement from the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, of almost €4.1m to develop and enhance over 150 outdoor recreation projects.

In Leitrim, the ORIS funding will be key to enhancing mountain trails, forest walks, cycleways, rivers, lakes and beaches. It will also provide a boost to local economies by attracting more visitors to our rural communities.

An amount of €29,076 has been awarded for improvement works to Lough Rinn and Cappagh trails; an amount of €10,055 has been awarded for the erection of signage and benches at Dromahair park; €19,804 has been awarded for an upgrade to part of the walking trail in Derrycarne woods, and €20,892 has been granted to create a trail linking existing routes and roadways with Lough Rynn Estate.

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Announcing the funding today, Minister Heather Humphreys said: "With summer just a couple of months away, I’m really pleased to announce over €4.1 million to develop over 150 outdoor recreation projects right across Rural Ireland.

"The investment I’m announcing today will greatly enhance the natural amenities right on our doorstep - from our walkways, mountain trails and forest walks, to our cycleways, beaches and rivers. I believe the projects receiving funding today will play an important role in attracting more visitors to our rural towns and villages.

"The health benefits from engaging in outdoor activity combined with the economic and social benefits that can be achieved by this investment for rural Ireland, will no doubt serve us well into the future. That is why I am making this funding available today and I look forward to making further announcements for larger scale investments in this sector in the coming weeks."

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr. Justin Warnock welcomed the funding announcement: "I welcome this funding for Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure for County Leitrim. Investment and development in this type of infrastructure will make Leitrim an attractive place for walking and other outdoor activities and will help to attract more visitors to our county."

Interim Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council, Joseph Gilhooly said: "I am really pleased with the funding announced today by Minister Humphreys for County Leitrim under the Outdoor recreational Infrastructure Scheme. Tourism and the Slow Adventure Tourism product, in particular, is very important to our County. Funding of this nature supports the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in the county which makes exploring County Leitrim an attractive activity for those who live here and those who visit the county."